Chapter 6 – Fallen and Found

Night Terrors

Kate’s POV

The oppressive energy from outside pressed against the cabin, a tangible force that made the air heavy and difficult to breathe. Cyrus’s tense stance and the erratic flickering of the wards spoke volumes. Danger was imminent. I could feel a knot forming in my stomach, mirroring his unease. The shadows outside seemed to writhe and stretch, their elongated forms creeping closer to the cabin like hungry predators.

“Cyrus, what do we do?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my efforts to stay calm.

He turned to me, his blue eyes serious. “Stay close and follow my lead. If things get out of hand, run to the cellar. It’s reinforced and should keep you safe.”

I nodded, trying to swallow the lump of fear in my throat. Grabbing a sturdy wooden chair, I positioned myself behind it, ready to use it as a makeshift shield. If only I could control my powers, I thought desperately. Maybe I could help Cyrus fight off whatever was coming.

Cyrus moved swiftly, checking the locks on the doors and windows. The wards flickered more intensely, casting an eerie glow over the room. He paused, his gaze fixed on a point outside, his muscles tensing.

“Get ready,” he murmured, his voice low and urgent.

The wards around the cabin began to pulse erratically, their glow dimming and then flaring brightly. It was as if an invisible force was pressing against them, testing their strength. A low hum resonated through the air, growing louder with each passing second. The temperature in the room dropped sharply, a bone-chilling cold seeping in through the cracks. The air grew thick with the stench of sulfur, a smell that clung to the back of my throat. I could hear faint whispers, disembodied voices that seemed to slither through the walls.

Outside, the trees swayed violently, though there was no wind. Shadows danced and twisted, growing closer and closer to the cabin. The hum intensified, morphing into a high-pitched whine that made my skin crawl.

“What’s happening?” I shrieked, my voice barely audible over the growing noise.

“They’re trying to break through the wards,” he said, his tone grim. “Stay close and be ready to move.”

The whine escalated into a deafening screech, and then, with a sickening crack, the wards shattered. The protective barrier around the cabin disintegrated, leaving us exposed. The sudden silence was deafening, the absence of the wards’ hum more terrifying than the noise that had preceded it.

The window exploded inward, shards of glass raining down on us. A freezing wind swept through the room, carrying with it the unmistakable stench of decay. A hulking figure filled the broken window frame, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent.

Cyrus sprang into action, his sword flashing in the dim light as he faced the demon. The creature was massive, its form shifting and writhing as if made of living darkness. Its claws were long and razor-sharp, and its eyes burned with an unholy light. It let out a guttural growl, a sound that reverberated through the cabin and sent chills down my spine.

“This is going to be a long night,” Cyrus muttered, his voice barely audible over the creature’s menacing growl.

Cyrus danced around the first demon with practiced agility, his blade a silver arc in the dim light. The creature roared, its claws raking through the air, but Cyrus was always a step ahead, his movements honed from years of training. With a quick pivot, Cyrus evaded another swipe, his blade flashing as he feinted a strike, only to dodge to the side as the demon’s claws slashed through the air again. The creature roared, its claws slashing wildly, inches from Cyrus’s face, but he narrowly twisted away.

I crouched behind the chair, my heart pounding. The noise of the battle filled the cabin, the clash of metal against flesh, and the guttural growls of the demon. I felt helpless, useless in the face of such a terrifying enemy.

Just when it seemed Cyrus had gained the upper hand, a second demon burst through the door, its eyes fixated on me. This one was smaller, with leathery wings and a face that resembled a twisted, demonic bat. It let out a screech, a sound that made my ears ring and my blood run cold.

“Two for one special?” I muttered, my attempt at humor falling flat in the face of impending doom.

This demon was less interested in brute force and more in psychological warfare. It stalked towards me slowly, its movements deliberate, its eyes glowing with an eerie light.

Cyrus was still locked in a life-or-death struggle with the first demon, unable to turn his attention away to help me. He fought fiercely with the first demon, his focus entirely consumed by the battle, leaving me to face this horror alone.

“Down, boy!” I hissed at it, waving my chair wildly in the demon’s direction.

Its leathery wings rustled ominously, and its claws scraped the floor with a sickening sound. The creature moved with a slow, deliberate gait, savoring my fear. Its glowing eyes never left mine, filled with chilling intent. It let out a deafening, high-pitched shriek which made my body freeze in place.

“Kate, get to the cellar!” Cyrus shouted, his voice strained with effort. But fear had rooted me to the spot, my muscles refusing to obey my commands.

The demon lunged, its claws extended, and a primal instinct surged through me. I raised my hands, a desperate plea for protection and a wave of warmth washed over me. It was similar to the same tingling sensation I had felt when I healed Dan, but this time, it was more intense, more powerful.

A burst of light erupted from my hands, striking the demon and sending it reeling back. The force of it left me stunned, my hands tingling with the aftereffects. The demon roared in pain, its form shimmering and distorting.

Cyrus glanced over, his eyes widening in shock. “Kate, do it again! Use your power!”

I focused, trying to summon the light once more, but my hands remained empty. The earlier instinct had been pure reaction, and now I had no idea how to replicate it. I tried to feel the energy again, to harness that burst of light, but it was like trying to grasp smoke. My hands felt cold and numb, the adrenaline-fueled surge of power completely gone. The panic from earlier had triggered the reaction, and now I felt nothing but fear and exhaustion.

“I can’t!” I cried, tears of frustration and fear welling up. “I don’t know how I did it!”

Cyrus’s momentary distraction was all the other demon needed. It seized the opportunity, its claws slashing across his side, drawing a line of blood. He cried out in pain, staggering but not falling. Blood dripped from the wound, and he tightened his grip on his sword, eyes blazing with determination.

“Cyrus, watch out!” I screamed, my voice raw with terror. He gritted his teeth and fought to stay upright, his determination evident even through the pain.

The second demon, momentarily stunned by my earlier attack, had recovered. It snarled, flapping its leathery wings and sending a gust of fetid air through the room. It lunged at Cyrus again, its claws aimed for his throat. Cyrus ducked, narrowly avoiding the attack, and swung his sword in a wide arc, the blade connecting with the demon’s flesh. The blade met the demon’s flesh with a sickening crunch, but the creature was resilient, its wounds closing almost as quickly as they appeared.

Desperation and fear drove me forward. I grabbed a heavy iron pan from the hearth and charged at the winged demon before it could fully recover. I screamed as I swung the pan with all my might, connecting with the back of its head.

The demon roared in anger, its attention now solely on me. Cyrus, seizing the opportunity, jumped towards the winged demon and drove his sword deep into its chest. The creature shrieked, flailing its wings wildly, before finally collapsing dead on the floor.

“Kate, get out of here!” Cyrus yelled, pulling his sword out of the demon’s corpse, but I stood my ground, ready to strike again. I couldn’t leave him alone, not now. I had to fight, even if it meant facing these monsters head-on.

The first demon, sensing an opportunity, lunged at Cyrus with renewed fury. Its claws caught him across the chest, ripping through his shirt and drawing blood. Cyrus grunted in pain but managed to land a blow on the demon’s arm, forcing it to recoil.

I gripped the iron pan tighter, stepping forward to stand beside Cyrus. The demon snarled, its eyes darting between us, calculating its next move. Cyrus glanced at me, a mix of frustration and gratitude in his eyes.

“We need to finish this,” he said through gritted teeth, his voice laced with pain.

I nodded, determination hardening my resolve. As the demon charged again, I swung the pan with all my strength, connecting with its head. The demon staggered, and Cyrus took the opportunity to drive his sword through its heart. With a final, agonized roar, the demon finally fell, leaving us standing in the midst of the chaos.

Cyrus turned to me, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Thanks,” he managed, wincing as he clutched his wounded side. “But next time, try to listen to the guy with the actual weapon, okay?”

I nodded, guilt mixing with the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. The cabin was a wreck, the wards shattered, and I could hear distant roars and growls, indicating more demons might be on their way.

“We can’t stay here,” I said urgently, looking around at the destroyed cabin. “The wards are down. We need to find a safer place.”

Cyrus grimaced, pressing a hand to his bleeding wound. “The cellar. It’s our best bet.”

His face was pale, and I could see the pain etched into his features. “Help me,” he said weakly.

I wrapped an arm around his waist, supporting his weight as we stumbled towards the cellar door. We descended the narrow stairs into the darkness, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and forgotten memories. I secured the door behind us, hoping it would hold against whatever horrors lurked outside.

The cellar was small and cramped, filled with old tools and supplies. I helped Cyrus settle in a corner, his back against the cold stone wall. His breathing was shallow, and I could see the pain in his eyes.

“Let me try to heal you,” I offered, my hands trembling slightly. “I… I don’t know if I can, but I have to try.”

Cyrus nodded weakly, too exhausted to argue. I placed my hands over his wounds, focusing on the warmth and energy I had felt before. It was like trying to catch a fleeting memory, but slowly, I felt a tingle in my fingers. The warmth spread, and I could see the wounds slowly closing, the bleeding subsiding.

Cyrus’s eyes widened in surprise and relief. “It’s working,” he whispered. “Keep going.”

I poured all my concentration into the task, my hands glowing faintly as the wounds continued to heal. Finally, the bleeding stopped completely, and the worst of the damage was repaired.

“You did it,” he whispered, his voice filled with awe. “Thank you, Kate.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion wash over me. “We need to stay here until morning,” I said softly. “Do you think the cellar will hold?”

Cyrus leaned back against the wall, his eyes half-closed. “We’ll be alright,” he murmured. “Just need to rest.”

I settled beside him, the cool stone a stark contrast to the heat still radiating from my hands. The cellar was dark and cramped, but in that moment, it felt like a haven from the horrors above. The sounds of distant growls still reached us, but they seemed muted, less threatening.

As the adrenaline slowly faded, the reality of our situation sank in. We were trapped, injured, and surrounded by unknown dangers. But we weren’t alone. The thought was both terrifying and oddly reassuring. I could feel Cyrus’s presence beside me, his steady breathing a comforting rhythm in the darkness.

“Do you think more demons will come?” I asked quietly, breaking the silence.

Cyrus’s eyes opened slightly, a hint of worry in his gaze. “It’s possible,” he admitted. “But the cellar is reinforced. It should hold.”

I nodded, drawing my knees up to my chest. The darkness felt oppressive, and I tried to focus on the warmth of Cyrus’s body next to mine. We were forced to huddle close together, our shoulders touching, seeking comfort in the tight space.

“Thank you for staying,” he said after a while, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m not sure I would have made it out of there without you.”

I met his gaze, surprised by the vulnerability in his tone. “I couldn’t leave you,” I replied, my voice equally soft. “We’re in this together.”

He nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips. “We make a pretty good team, wouldn’t you say? Even if one of us fights with a frying pan.”

For a moment, the fear and tension seemed to fade, replaced by a shared sense of relief. The cellar was dark and cramped, but in that moment, it felt like the safest place in the world.

The absurdity of the situation suddenly struck me, and I let out a shaky laugh. “I just fought a demon with a frying pan,” I said, a nervous giggle escaping my lips. “I can’t believe that actually happened.”

Cyrus chuckled weakly, shaking his head. “Well, they say improvisation is the key to survival. Guess you proved them right.”

My laughter died in my throat as the reality of our situation crashed back down on me. I buried my face in my hands, the terror and exhaustion overwhelming me. “This is my life now,” I choked out between sobs. “Running away from demons, fighting for survival. I’m so scared, Cyrus.”

Cyrus pulled me close, his strong arms a comforting anchor. “It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice a steady reassurance. “I’m here. We’ll get through this together.”

The sound of more demons ravaging the cabin above us sent chills down my spine. The scraping and growling were terrifying, but somehow, the cellar door held. We clung to each other, seeking solace in the warmth of our embrace.

“You’re going to be okay,” Cyrus murmured, his breath warm against my ear. “We’ll find a way to stop them. You have incredible power, Kate. You just need to learn how to control it.”

I nodded against his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat calming me. “I saw what you did,” he continued, his voice filled with wonder. “The light… it was amazing. Once you master that, those demons won’t stand a chance.”

His words were both comforting and daunting. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

We stayed like that for what felt like hours, holding each other tightly as the sounds of the destruction continued above us. Slowly, the noises began to fade, the cabin above falling silent.

Exhaustion finally took its toll. Cyrus’s grip on me loosened, and his breathing evened out as he drifted off to sleep. I nestled closer, the warmth of his body and the steady beat of his heart lulling me into a sense of safety. As the darkness of the cellar enveloped us, sleep claimed us both, our bodies intertwined for comfort and protection. The last thing I heard before drifting off was Cyrus’s soft, even breathing, a reminder that even in the face of darkness and uncertainty, we weren’t alone.